Press Statement of Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM – nigerian section of IsP) regarding the persecution of Omoyele Sowore and his remand in Kuje prison
The Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM) strongly condemns the latest action of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the decision of Justice Umar to revoke the bail of activist, journalist, and human rights campaigner Omoyele Sowore and remand him in Kuje Correctional Centre.
The operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday came to the court to arrest human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, within the court premises but there are resistance by AAC and Take it Back Movement members in Court.
The development came shortly after Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre until Wednesday, following the earlier revocation of his bail.
Earlier in the proceedings, the court had dismissed Sowore’s application seeking the recusal of the presiding judge in his trial over comments in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”
This development represents yet another dangerous assault on democratic rights and civil liberties in Nigeria. Sowore was released on bail with self recognition earlier when the case started so there’s no need for his bail to be revoked on minor issues. The continued persecution of Sowore is not merely an attack on an individual; it is an attack on the constitutional rights of all Nigerians to freedom of expression, association, and political dissent.
For years, Omoyele Sowore has remained one of the most vocal critics of corruption, bad governance, economic exploitation, and the anti-poor policies that have condemned millions of Nigerians to poverty and insecurity. Rather than address the legitimate issues raised by activists and ordinary citizens, the Nigerian state has increasingly resorted to intimidation, arrests, prosecutions, and judicial harassment to silence critical voices.
This occurs at a time when millions of Nigerians face unprecedented hardship arising from soaring inflation, unemployment, mass poverty, collapsing public services, and worsening insecurity. Instead of mobilizing resources to address these pressing social and economic crises, the government continues to devote energy to pursuing critics and activists whose only offence is speaking truth to power.
The Revolutionary Socialist Movement maintains that democracy cannot flourish where citizens are punished for expressing dissenting views. The right to criticize government policies and demand accountability is fundamental to any society that claims to be democratic.
We therefore demand the immediate reversal of all undemocratic actions that undermine the democratic rights of Omoyele Sowore. Immediately end to the persecution, intimidation, and harassment of activists, journalists, trade unionists, and opposition voices.
Respect for the constitutional rights of all citizens, including the rights to free expression, peaceful assembly, and political participation.
The independence of the judiciary from any form of political influence or interference. A halt to the growing trend of criminalizing dissent and democratic activism in Nigeria.
We call on workers, youth, students, civil society organizations, trade unions, pro-democracy groups, and all defenders of human rights to reject this dangerous attack on democratic freedoms. An injury to one democratic voice is an injury to the collective rights of all Nigerians.
The struggle for a just, democratic, and socialist society cannot be defeated through repression. History has shown that no amount of intimidation can permanently silence the aspirations of the masses for freedom, dignity, and social justice.
22 June, 2026
